Railway car



Oct; 23, 1928.

A. CAMPBELL RA ILWAY CAR 5 Sheets-Shet Filed July 11, 1927 5 ATT NEYS.

Oct. 23, 1928.

A. CAMPBELL RAILWAY CAR Filed July 11, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet IN VEN TOR. A LE OV IPBELL 4% p: i /firm EYS.

Oct. 23, 1928. 1588;851

A. CAMPBELL RAILWAY CAR Filed July 11, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. GYLE CAMPBELL EEH/SATTO NEYS.

Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARGYLE CAMPBELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T ENTERPRISE RAlLWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORTPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY CAR.

Application filed. July 11,

My invention relates to railway cars of the type having side stakes with side discharge doors intern'iediate said stakes for unloading to the side or sides of the track.

My invention is more especially related to that type of car having plow guides and adapted for unloading by having a plow passed therethrough. In cars of the identilied type it has been customary to space the side stakes transversely of the car to provide approximately 8 8 spacing between plow guides and a large number of cars are now in service with this spacing and therefore the unloading plows have been largely standardized for use in this spacing.

It is a particular object of my invention to provide a car of great strength and etliciency, suitable for use in connection with an unloading plow and also adapted for general utility purposes either as a closed end gondola car or a level floor car with open ends.

Another object of my invention is to increase the cubic capacity of such cars to an extent which will justify their use in revenue freight service while retaining the standard spacing between plow guides and to this end 1 space the side doors outwardly beyond the inner faces of the side stakes for the purpose of securing increased effective width interiediate the side stakes.

A "further object of my invention is to provide a car having a substantially level floor throughout the length and width of the car between stakes whereby the unloading plow is carried on a continuous level floor and to bridge the space intermediate the inner faces of the stakes and the doors by means oi an inclined runway to thereby render the car self-clearing and prevent the lodgment of material on the floor beyond the inner faces of the stakes.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the draw-- ings, description and claims appended hereto.

For further comprehension of my invention, reference must be had to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 shows a trans verse, vertical sectional view taken through the car approximately midway ot the length of the car. Fig. 2 is a fractional, horizontal 1927. Serial No. 204,677.

sectional view taken through one of the stakes on a line corresponding substantially to line 22 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate alteruate side stake constructions. Fig. 5 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view taken approximately midway ot' the car and on a line corresponding to line 55 of Fig. 1, said view illustrating the end wall member of the car positioned as the vertical end wall of a gondola. car. Fig. 6 is a fractional, sectional view of that portion of the car shown in F ig. 5 and illustrates the end wall member positioned as a portion of a level floor oi the car. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the end of the car showing one of the stake pockets. Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the lower portion of one of the stakes on the end wall member. F ig. 9 is a detail plan View of a portion of the end of the car showing the locking bolt on the end Wall member in locked position. Fig. 10 is a fractional elevational view of a portion of the end of the car showing the lockingobolt on the end wall member in locked position. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view through the end wall men'iber as taken on the line l11l otFig. 10. Fig; 12 is a fractional detail plan view of the end wall member positioned as a portion of the floor and in locked position. And Fig. 13 is a fractional elcvational end view of a portion of the car showing the end wall member positioned as a portion of the i floor and in locked position.

In said drawings, the ui'idertran'ic is composes of side sills as indicated at 11; centersills 22; cross diaphragms33; centersill spacers l; cro.- sbeam bottom tie plates 5. said plates extending across the plane of the center sill and connecting the diaphragm members 8 5; and a crossbeam top member 6 extending across the plane of the center sills and connecting the diaphragms 38. said member being preferably in the form oi a Z-bar and attached to the crossbeam diaphragms by rivets 7, the latter being disposed in shear. A part of the body bolster construction is indicated at 8; theend sill at 9; striking casting at 10; the level floor extending approximately from bolster to bolster at ll; nailing-pieces 12 adapted to space side doors and side stakes is completed by V fillers 18, which are preferably formed of wood and bolted together by bolts 118 as indicated in Figs. and 2.

The stakes are formed of pressed shapes in the form, of pans with inner flange list of greater width than the outer flange 214, said flange 114 being of sufficient width to receive rivets whereby connection with the side sills is effected. The space intermediate the side doors and plow guides is bridged by an incline 19, said incline being formed by i an extension of the fioor 11 beyond the plane of the side wall and beveled, the incline being continued downwardly below the floor by supporting blocks 20, which are beveled as indicated at '21 to form an extension of the incline 19. Said blocks 20 extend from stake to stake and are supported on brackets as in dicated at 22.

Adjacent their upper portions each stake 1-lflares outwardly and upwardly as lndicated at 23 and is secured to the corresponding top rail member 15, said top rail member being preferably in the form of Z-bars having wooden filling members 2 1 secured thereto.

The flare may commence at the top edge of the plow guide and extend in a straight line outwardly to the top rail, as indicated in Fig. 3 or. as shown in Fig. 4, the flare may start at the top edge of the plow guide and extend outwardly and upwardly, more sharply for a short distance and then the stake will extend vertically.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 3, the blocks 18 will be made to conform to the flare of the stake and, in the construction illus trated in Fig. 41 the blocks 18 will be relatively short to conform to the special construction therein shown and, in the Fig. 4 modification the side doors will abut the flanges 114 of the stakes for a major portion of their length to form the seal.

The side doors A are formed of a series of wooden planks 25, tied together by a suitable framework which includes vertically extending members 26 and a horizontally extendingreinforcing member 27 along the free edge. Each member 27 is in the form of an a a e-shaped bar having a horizontally extending flange 28 which extends beneath the adjacent projecting floor member when the door is in closed position to thereby form riveted to the end sill.

a tight sealing joint for the purpose of preventing leakage at the lower margins of the doors.

The vertical members 26 are fitted at their upper ends with hinge straps 29 by which the doors are suspended from hinge butts 30, the latter being secured to the top rail member 15. The hinge members 26 are fitted at their lower ends with extensions 31 with which an operating shaft 32 is adapted to co-operate for the purpose of maintaining the doors in closed position, said shaft 32 being movable in slots 33 formed in the stakes 1 1. Adjacent their upper ends the side doors are diverted inwardly for the purpose of disposing the pivoted center of the door inwardly of'the main body thereof, whereby said doors will swing to closed position by gravity. With this construction a level floor is provided throughout the width of the car intermediate the side stake and rub plates, the floor presenting an uninterrupted support for the plow as it is drawn through the car while the inclined surfaces 19 provide chutes intermediate the stakes to divert the material as it is forced outwardly by means of the plow beyond the level floor and plow guides.

The end wall members B are'each formed of a series of planks 34 united by a series of stakes 35 and a top rail member 36, the latter being preferably in the form of a bulb angle disposed as shown in the drawings. The end Wall member B may be positioned either as the vertical end wall of a closed end gondola car 01' to form a portion of the level floor of an open end gondola car as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The end stakes 35 extend for a short distance beyond the planks 3 1, and when the member B is positioned as the vertical end wall of a gondola, these projections fit in sockets 37, the latter being preferably formed from strip material Beneath each socket 37 there is disposed a section of angle member 39 also riveted to the end sill which forms a support for the stakes and also for the sub floor.

The end wall member B is retained in its vertical position by a sliding latch bolt 40 slidably mounted in bearing brarkets 11, as indicated in Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive. It will be understood that this construction is applied at each end of each end wall member, but as the constructions are similar atthe four corners of the car, the description will be confined to one only. Located in alignment with said latch bolt 40 is a hollow bracket 12, the latter being riveted to the top rail member 15 and also to the corner stake 14 as shown. The outer end of the sliding" bolt 10 is threaded as indicated at 13 and there fitted with a nut 44 whereby the side of the car may be drawn inward and the :ar side maintained against outwardbulging. A lug 45 is formed integrally with the bolt, said lug l5 being extended through a slot 46 formed in one of the flanges of the end wall top member 36. The sliding bolt bracket i1 is formed with a socket portion a? adapted to receive one of the end stakes 35, the latter being secured thereto by bolts 48 and 49 thereby providing a rigid connection between the end stakes and the end wall top member 36.

lVhen it is desired to convert the car from a closed end gondola to an open end car, the nut il removed from the sliding bolt 40 and the latter retracted in its socket, the outstanding lug 4:5 being adapted to have sliding move ment in the slot id. The lug 45, while not of suiticient size to be an obstruction is large enough for engagement by a han'nner, or other suitable operating tool, whereby the bolt may be conveniently moved from one position to another. With both belts in the retracted position, the member B is then lifted from the sockets 237 and the door lowered with the lower end thereof moved inwardly to the position indicated in Fig. 6, the projection portions of the end stakes 35 being positioned beneath a projecting portion of the floor 11, the end floor nailing block 50 being set inwardly from the edge of thefioor for the purpose of providing a recess for said stakes. With the doors in the position indicated in Fig. 6 the inner face of the end wall member B then YiOl'lllS a continuation of the main body of the level floor 11 and the stakes, safety appliances on the outer side of the end member B as well as the lettering which is usual on the end of the car, will be protected from the wearing effects of the plow and lading in the car.

The end wall member 13 in its position as a portion of the level floor of the car is locked by the sliding latch bolt 40 which is moved outwardly with the threaded end extended through a bracket 51. said bracket 51 being riveted to the adjacent corner post as shown in Figures 12 and 13. The nut id is then applied on the end of the bolt and the bolt drawn up =tightly. For the purpose of providing the necessary clearance for the nut all a perforation is provided in the corner stake l i. The securing of the end wall members in the manner indicated provides for permanency and elliciency as said sections are then sced against movement during the shifting oi .ne car or when unloading is being eilected. l me 11s of an unloading plow. The provision et a level floor throughout the length of the car from end to end thereof and throughout tue entire width of the same intern'iediate the side stakes provides a level. runway for the plow and a flat floor for unloadng by means of clam shell buckets and the like. When the end wall. men'ibers are positioned to form portions of the floor of the car. there is presented a level unobstructed floor from end to end on which the. plow can ride and the fact that the inclined side walls 19 only commence at or slightly beyond the plow guides assures the unloading plow being maintained against dipping and prevents the lodgment of rocks between the plow and the floor.

The additional car width attained by spacing the side doors outwardly beyond the plow guides increases the capacity of the car without correspondingly increasing the tale weight of the car and at the. same time the normal width between plow guides is maintained, thereby providing a car which may be used with plows of standard width.

It will be noted that the additional width of car is attained by extending the floor of the car he; ind the side sills aconstruction which pcrmits stakes of increased depth and strength as compared with present day car construct-ions. Such a feature is highly desirable in cars of this type inasmuch as considerable outward strain is imposed upon the side structure the material is forced outwardly towards the sides of the car by the unloading plow.

I claim:

1. In a railway car, the combination with plow guides; of a level floor extending continuously therebetween; side doors spaced away from the edges of said. level floor, said doors ext-ending below the level of the floor; and elements with inclined surfaces leading from said plow guides to the door.

2. In a railway car, the combination with side stakes on each side of the car; of side doors having their inner faces spaced outwardly of the inner faces of said side stakes; a horizontal floor extending between the side stakes; and means providing inclined surfaces leading downwardly and outwardly from the inner faces of said side stakes to the inner faces of the side doors.

In a railway car,.the combination with the floor thereof; of swinging side door extending below said floor; and a ledge extending inwardly beyond the door to over-- lap beneath tne floor thereby forming a seal against leakage.

l. In a railway car, the coinbination with the side Sills; of side stakes rising verticall therefrom; side doors hinged inlcrmediate said side stakes, said side doors bein L .sced outwardly from said side sills; a level lioor extending from side sill to side sill; and an inclined lioor portion at each side of the car extending from each side sill. to the doors.

5. In a-railway car, the conihiinition with an end wall member adapted in one position to form the vertical end wall. of gondola car and in another position to form a portion of the level floor of said car, said wall member being adapted to have the inner face thereof in cont; ct with the load when in position either as the vertical end wall of tit! lln

portion of a level floor of a car and in another position the vertical end of a gondola car, said member being bodily movable from one position to the other; and means for locking said member relatively to the car in either of its positions.

7 In a railway car, a member adapted to form in one position the vertical wall of a flat floor gondola car and in another position to form a portion of the floor of a level floor car, said member having, on one side thereof, reinforced means assuming a position on the outer face of the wall of the car when the member is positioned as the vertical wall. of the car and assuming a position beneath the floor when the member is positioned as a portion of the floor of the car.

8. In a railway car, the combination with the side wall of the car; of a movable end wall member; and devices for locking said member in position relatively to the side wall, said devices including a stationary member carried by the side wall of the car and a sliding bolt member carried by the end wall member and means for limiting the lengthwise movement of the bolt and also securing it against rotation.

9. In a railway car, the combination with a stationary side wall member; of a movable end wall member adapted to be locked relatively to the side wall, said end wall member including; a top reinforcing ma nil memher having a slot therein; a slidin); bolt tending through the said slot; means for locking the bolt relatively to the car side wall member; and means securing the bolt against lengthwise movement.

10. In a railway car, the combination with the side wall of the car; of a movable end member adapted, in one position, to form a portion of the level floor of the car and, in another position, to form the vertical end wall of the car; devices for locking'said member in either of said positions, said devices including, at one end of the member,

7 a projection adapted for engagement with a fixed portion of the car structure and at the opposite end means adapted to extend beyond the end wall member, said means including a sliding latch bolt having associated therewith means securing the bolt against rotary movement and means limiting its movement in either direction lengthwise of the bolt; and a projection extending from the bolt outwardly beyond the end wall member for engagement by an operating tool.

11. In a railway car, of the character described, the combination with a body portion having a fixed flat floor section; of side stakes disposed outwardly of said fixed floor section; pivoted side doors between the stakes, said side doors having their lower portions extended below the fixed floor section and disposed outwardly thereof; and means, along each side of the car, to bridge and seal the gap between the adjacent edge of the fixed floor section and the doors and to provide a shedding surface when the doors are opened.

12'. In a railway car, a movable end wall member, adapted, in one position, to form a portion of a level floor of a car and inanother position, the vertical end wall of the ear. said member having a reinforcing element at one end thereof; a sliding bolt associated with each end of said reinforcing element, said sliding bolt being adapted to form an extension of the reinforcing element to engage with a portion of the car structure for the purpose of locking the endwall member in either of its positions.

13. In a railway car having a substantially level floor; a section of said floor at the end of the car being movable to form the end wall of the car, said end section having reinforcing members of appreciable thickness; a sub-floor spaced away from said main floor a sufficient distance to accommodate said reinforcing means on the movable section of the floor whereby the said sub-floor will form the floor of the load-carrying space in the car when the end wall member is positioned to form the 7 end wall of the'car.

14. In a railway car, the combination with a main floor; of a sub-floor at the end of the car, said sub-floor being spaced away from and below said main floor; pockets formed in said sub-floor adjacent the end of the car; and a movable section adapted in one position to form a continuation of the main floor and in another position to form an end wall of the car, said section having projections extending beyond the main body thereof, said proj ections, when the section isvpositioned as the end wall of the car, extending into said pockets and, when ositioned to form a portion of the floor o the car, being extended beneath the main floor.

15. In a railway car, the combination with the side walls of the car; of an end wall member adapted to lie between the side walls and form, in one position, the end wall of the car and, in another position, a portion of the level floor of the car; a reinforcing element extending transversely of the car along one margin of the end wall member, said reinforcing element having a slot formed therein; a locking member having a portion extending within said slot and movable lengthwise therein, said locking member being movable lengthwise to extend in the plane of the adjacent car wall; and a stationary bracket on the car wall, said bracket being adapted to receive the locking member whereby locking engagement is effected between the movable wall mem r and the adjacent car side.

16. In a car of the character described, the combination with a body portion having side walls and a horizontal fixed floor section; of a displaceable member at the end of the car; said member having stakes on one side thereof lllfi adapted to be positioned on the outer side of said member When the latter is in vertical position; eo-operable means on said member and the car body for retaining said member in vertical position, the floor of said our body being recessed at the end thereof to accommodate said stakes When said member is in horizontal position and with said member flush with the floor section of the car.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I 10 have hereunto subscribed my name this 7th day of July, 1927.

ARGYLE CAMPBELL. 

